The Most Beautiful You Is You

This is probably one of the biggest issues most people face within their character battles. In theory you would think loving yourself isn’t hard, but it is. We pick out so many flaws within our physical and emotional self that create this wall preventing us from truly loving ourselves for who we truly are.

We hear “you have to learn to love yourself before you can let anyone else love you,” or any other cliche saying, but this is so true. Focusing on all the negative about ourselves doesn’t do us any good. Should we try to work on the the things we can fix? Sure, but it shouldn’t define who we are or how we see ourselves.

I wish I had evidence to back up the claims I’m about to make at this moment, and maybe later I will. Lets start from the top. Literally. My hair: not enough volume, not long enough, not the right shade of brown I’d like, too stringy sometimes, not a flawless air dry, too dark to “train”, and not shiny enough. My face: not clear enough because my eczema causes dryness and then acne never goes away, my pores are too noticeable, my eyebrows aren’t arched right, my jawline isn’t distinct enough, my teeth aren’t straight or white enough, my lips aren’t even, my nose is too big, my eyelashes aren’t long enough, my eyes are brown (I wish they were green), and I have an inevitable double chin. My body: my boobs are too small, my shoulders are too wide, my stomach isn’t flat enough, my belly button is too big, I slouch too much, my love handles are too big, my arms and legs are too big, my knees and legs are too scarred up from childhood and sports, I’m not toned enough, my fingers are too boney and long, and my legs aren’t long enough. This list goes on, but I’ll stop here.

This is me, and this is what I see. Most of you probably don’t see me this way, and I’m grateful of that, but it doesn’t change what I see. Some of the things I named can be fixed (and I’m working on), but others just can’t. I try to be okay with that, but there are always days I’m more down about myself than others. These are the days we need to push harder and LOVE it all. Which is hard. Very hard. I’ll sit in the mirror and pick out every single detail on my face and pick at it until I leave a scar or make it bleed. Why? I’ll tell myself, and you can tell me, God made me the way I am and I’m perfect in his image. So why can’t I see that? I question if I take good enough care of myself, if I do the things to keep my looking my best.

Stop assuming that how you see someone is how they see themselves. Yes, that person you stalk on Instagram, you know who I’m talking about. We think that just because we think someone is perfect in every way and flawless, they see that in themselves too. NO. Its so nice and good to compliment someone because it boosts their confidence just a bit more, but don’t lecture them on “Oh, yes you ARE perfect” spiel. I put plenty of people on a pedestal that I’m sure don’t seem themselves the way I do. This mostly comes from physical appearance and perception. All we can do is hope one day they see themselves in the light we do.

Guys can deal with this just as much as girls can, but its no secret this topics speaks volumes to girls everywhere. Even though I struggle EVERY DAY, I’m rooting for you. Find that love, the peace, the energy, and go with it hunny. No matter what you think or what anyone says, you deserve to love every inch of yourself the way God intends for you to. When you find that special love for yourself, you will glow like never before, and oh what a day that will be!

Not only should you love your appearance, but you should love your heart. We emphasize our looks so much we forget to look on the inside.

This is me, and this is what I see. I’m forgetful, and it sometimes looks like carelessness but I care deeply. I care for my friends and family, and would do anything they ask. I suck at time management, and this sometimes looks like I pick and choose who I spend time with, but I don’t. Sometimes I want to help so much, I overload my plate, and then it looks like I just couldn’t do what I said I would. I’m a brat sometimes, and this can look like I’m mean. I don’t pray near enough, and this can look like I don’t love the Lord, but I do. For all of these flaws, I apologize, to everyone in my life. I never have bad intentions, never mean to miss anyone, never want to forget anything, but this happens, and I’m sorry. I try to juggle a lot, and sometimes too much, but we’re all trying to make it happen. I make mistakes.

If you ever feel like you’re on the other end of these situations, instead of giving the cold shoulder or getting mad, ask them if they need anything or some help. Ask if you can just pop over and do nothing with them. I spend a lot of time at home, and it looks like I do nothing to everyone else, but I’m really always busy usually. So, my people coming over to sit with me while I get things done would make me happy.

In every way you can think, love yourself better and harder. You deserve it!!! It doesn’t matter who you are, how pretty you think you look, how pretty you think your heart is, you deserve it. We all do! Above all, let God show you how beautiful you are. After all, he created every inch of you, so he would know. I know this is so hard and can be easy for someone to say “trust God,” but seriously. Wake up everyday and love yourself more than you did the day before.